Sometimes when I think about the future, my future to be precise, I like wondering if I’m going to succeed in my career. Will I be able to have a comfortable life (economically speaking) by doing what I do, and I like to think that I might. I don’t think this only in terms of my career, which is not of the highest paying ones out there. But in terms of gender, my age, and so many other things. Compared to my sister, who’s proven to be a very committed and apt medical student for whom I foresee a great future, the future of a writer isn’t that clear. Sometimes I think we’ve advanced so much as a society when it comes to gender equality, and then we see examples that prove this wrong.
This can actually be seen in every single area of life or profession. You have wage gaps, sexual harassment, humiliations, and the list could go on and on. And since the article is not precisely about this inequality in general terms, let’s focus on the subject: the music industry. To be more precise, the world of rock. If you think about it, the great legends of rock are mainly men. Yes, there are women who have made a huge step and have become icons on their own: Janis Joplin, Pat Benatar, or even Patti Smith (although her music is more connected to punk). But what about all-female bands? Do they exist? What was the journey they had to endure to make their mark in the industry?
Choose between your career and your personal life
If you really want to succeed in this business, you must be a hundred percent focused on doing so. It’s unthinkable for women musicians to divide their lives between their careers and a personal life in terms of marriage and kids. I mean, what if you’re reaching the peak and suddenly you find out you’re pregnant? That would totally ruin your chance of becoming a star. That also goes for the family in general terms. You won’t have the time to attend family events or whatever comes up. You’ll have to be completely devoted to this.
It may sound ridiculous, but there are tons of women who had made this choice, or worse, who’ve had to abandon their dream because record companies couldn’t afford someone with other priorities. We have cases like John Lennon, who had to keep his wife and son a secret for some time, but still, he didn’t have to make such a tough choice. And more importantly, wanting to start a family and still devote your time to music shouldn’t be contrasting life choices.
Prioritize how you look
People like pretty girls with a unique essence or style. The messy look has been already exploited and taken. Now we opt for good-looking girls who, besides their musical career, can be featured in ad campaigns or appear in movies. Today it’s all about multidisciplinary stars, so go find a look that makes you special and desirable at the same time.
Well, what can I say, I guess we’re still ways away from being able to say that women are no longer seen as objects for the male gaze. This still happens today. Talent is something you can “gain” or build around you, but what sells best is a good image, even in such rebellious realms as the rock industry.
Attend as many gigs as possible because you’ll need connections
You must go to any festival or show, and if you manage to reach one of the band members, the better. I mean, act like a groupie to get to know them, but at the same time, make yourself interesting so that they take you seriously. The best way to succeed is through connections, so perhaps you can meet important people backstage.
Do I have to say more? I mean it’s the old story of “be flirtatious, but not too much” or “play hard to get.” Sadly, in order to make yourself relevant, connections are really needed. The fantasy of being discovered randomly on the street or playing in a bar happens just once in a lifetime, but how do you get these connections? That’s actually the real problem.
Be willing to make some sacrifices
Yes, sometimes you’ll have to be willing to go further with an important manager or the director of the record company. But don’t worry, this will only be for a couple of times before they find another one, and if you do this right, by that time you might have already signed a contract. You have to be selective with whom you choose. One false step and your career might be over.
Sex, it’s always all about sex. If you think about it, this or actually all industries tend to think women don’t really have what it takes to make it. You don’t see guys being harassed or forced to sleep with someone to get a contract or to be given the chance of performing at some venue. But for women, it’s a reality that still happens.
You must have a tough shell
Well, we don’t really want emotional people who can throw everything away for any minor issue. You have to be strong to endure any possible outcome or circumstance. If possible, try being a man and save all your emotions for home, but here, we want you to be solid as a rock.
Again that idea of the emotionally unbalanced woman who can’t control herself.
Although these points might sound outdated or exaggerated, it’s something that really happens. In an interview with the Huffington Post, Genya Ravan from Goldie and the Gingerbreads tells how difficult it was to pursue a career in music without having to agree to these points. Some of her band members had quit because of this, or even had agreed in previous bands to do what managers and directives of the company asked them to. We tend to think about rock as an open and anti-system genre, but in fact, it all moves with the same mechanisms. One thing is what you portray and another how you manage to portray it. Naturally, this isn’t the case for every single female rock star, but it’s a constant.
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If you can’t have enough rock, take a look at these:
The Insane Story Behind Japan’s Most Famous Rock Band
You’ll Only Need 248 Rockstars And 64 Songs To Become A Rock Scholar
Historic Moments That Proved Rock Music’s Destructive Force
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